Insomnia is very difficult to deal with. It can impact the work, social life and overall quality of life. Who wants to be tired all the time?
Acupuncture has a long history of treating this insomnia. Actually one of acupuncture’s good side effects is helping you sleep better. Research has shown that acupuncture helps with insomnia.
Acupuncture for Insomnia
As with all acupuncture treatments, treating insomnia should address both the
root cause and the branch symptom of the illness. The root of an issue is the underlying imbalance that is leading to the insomnia. The branch treatment means to help the person relax and go to sleep in the near future.
Acupuncture treatment may include calming acupuncture points such as Yin Tang in the center of the forehead, ear points, and points on the head such as DU 20, and Si Shen Cong. On your own, try doing acupressure on these areas.
Insomnia can be caused from a disharmony in the Heart, Liver-Gallbladder, and Stomach. In Chinese medicine, the Heart houses the spirit which is the mental and emotional state of the person. The blood must nourish the heart, or else it would irritate the spirit causing insomnia characterized by restlessness, anxiety, and palpitations.
Stress and Emotions
Emotions are also a factor because the mind and body are strongly connected. Stress and frustration can cause insomnia from Liver Qi stagnation. This pattern is associated with irritability and neck pain. The liver qi should be smoothed with LV 3 on the foot and LI 4 on the hand for Liver Qi stagnation. Sometimes, stagnation in the stomach harasses the spirit, which is characterized by insomnia with bloating, belching, and nausea. For this condition, open the stomach channels by ST 36 and PC 6.
Good Sleep Habits
It is important to practice good sleeping habits. Relaxing with a book or magazine before sleeping is helpful to start the process of settling in. Disconnecting from digital devices (including your phone, ipad, email, and social media) 30 minutes before going to sleep. Don’t check your phone in the middle of the night either because this will wake you up. It is also helpful to get a real alarm clock to disconnect from the phone at night.
Nighty night!
